On Thursday, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar was taken under arrest from Dalhousie at Himachal Pradesh. He was arrested by Special Task Force of Uttar Pradesh Police. Chandrashekhar, a lawyer, is arrested for his alleged role in the Saharanpur violence. Chandrashekhar led his group Bhim Army during the protests in the district and also at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.

He allegedly circulated messages on social media platforms asking Dalits to join his protests. He was also accused of his role in the violence during which a police post was set on fire, injuring a number of people. The officials said the Bhim Army Bharat Ekta Mission, founded by 30-year old lawyer Chandrasekhar, circulated messages on WhatsApp and other social media platforms, appealing to members of the Dalit community to attend a ‘mahapanchayat’ on May 9 in Gandhi Park to demand compensation and relief for those affected by caste clashes.

A few days ago three activists of the Bhim Army were arrested for soliciting funds for the Dalit outfit at Shukartal. SP (Rural) Vinit Bhatnagar said that Amit Kumar, Bablu and Harish were arrested with many other activists of the organisation. A case under Section 153 (inciting a mob with an intent to cause riots) and Section 420 (cheating) of the IPC had been registered against them. They were allegedly distributing pamphlets and appealed to people to participate in a panchayat to be held on June 14 in Ratheri village in the district.

Saharanpur has been witnessing caste-based violence since late April. The situation got worse after a Dalit man was killed and several injured in violence last month. As a repercussion to the violence, mobile Internet and other messaging services had been suspended in the district.

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